SHIPPING.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 3367, 20 November 1872, Page 3

SHIPPING.

Business has not been very brisk since the departure of the mail steamer Nevada, on the 2uth ult., for .San Francisco via Northern Porto ami Houolulu. The arrivals have been 29, aud the departures 28 ; the inward tonnage being 7296 and tae outward 85(55, registered. This doe* not include small coasters. The only arrival from foreign port* during the month was the brig Ziska, from Foo-chow-foo. The departures include the largo iron clipper ship Hydaspes, for Melbourne, on the 2nd inßt. ; brig Ocean Monarch, last from Mauritius, for Newcastle, on the 4th; aa also the French barque Cantabre, on the same date, for Lyttelton with part of her Mauritius cargo. Of the ships in Port, the James Nicol Fleming is loading for London, and has on board 150 tons preserved meats, 90 of tallow, and upwards of 1000 bales of wool. The Peter Denny has commenced loading for London, and has taken in a quantity of flax. The K. P. Bouverie is moored alongside the Port Chalmers Railway Pier, dißcharging cargo, and i« to receive iier outward freight of wool per rail. The Otago loads 3fter the Fleming, for home. The Ironside proceeds to the Bluff to load as first wool ahip fraui thence this season. The iron clipper May Queen is nearly discharged, aod loads here for London.

A number of vessels are due, including the Palmerston, from Hamburg; Christian M'Ausland, from Glasgow ; Chattanooga, from New York j Conquest, from Boston; and Bertha, from Mauritius ; besides intercolonial vessels, promising a busy IKjcember in shipping matters. The passenger traffic for the month'shows a pretty even balance between arrh'als and departures. The Craving Dock lias been lately occupied by the s.B. Phoebe, and but for some little difference it would have been used by the Hydnspes, 2093 terns register, and 300 feet in length, leaving about 30 feet to spare. The Floating Dock, belonging to Messrs Murray and Co., has 3at«ly been occupied by the s.s. Rangatira, which received in it her usual periodical overhaul and repainting. Three handy schooners, for the coasting trade, built of native limber, are expected to be launched in the vicinity of Port Chalmers next week.

The hay •wlialtiineu, having made a good winter's harvest, have.coiled up their ropes and hauled their boats up till next season. The boat-lowering a paratus invented by Mr Douglas, the Inspector of Steamers, ami i Dredge blaster at Port Chalmers, received > another trial at Port Chalmers on the Ist iast. In.tho experiment an to:strength, the apnaratcts was subjected to a strain of 4 tons 8 cwt., and at that showed no sifjnn of yiel<l- • ing; no. more .weight could be safely applied without risk to the crane from which the

. hoat was suspended.'. Capt. M'Lean, of tlie » Albion, Messrs Bkir, Bruaton, and Higgin-

son, engineers, and Professors Black and Shand were present, *nd considered the results highly successful. The boat, with nine or ten persons on board, was afterwards dropped from the Albion's davits while the steamer was going at full speed. The trial was regarded as very Batwfacfcory, With regard to the opinions of practical men as to the value of" the apparatus, it may be stated that Mr P. H.Trenton, of the Australian Steam Navigation Company, after having "on several occasions practically tested its usefulness," came to the conclusion that "it surpasses all previous inventions of its class." The' Captain of H.M.S. Basilisk considers it superior to the lowering apoarattts used in Her Majesty's ships. The Australian Mechanic and Journal of Science says :—"This apparatus.has been subjected to severe tests, both in this ami the neighbouring Colonies, with marked success in every instance." It was. tried in Adelaide on the 24th September. The boat fitted with it was, while the AJdinga was going at full speed, let down three "times "in a manner that surprised and delighted all." Another successful trial was made at Adelaide on the Bth October. The manner in which the invention has everywhere been received, must certainly he very gratifying to Mr Douglas.

The a.r,. Waipara, long and favourably known on the West Coast as a tender to Messrs M'Meckan and Blackwood's steamers at Hnkitika and Greymouth, arrived here on the 24th of July, was hauled up close to Stuart street jetty, cut in halves, and lengthened ten feet nix inches amidships, by Messrs Kincaid and M'Queen, of the Vulcan Foundry. The same firm fitted a new boiler, received from Melbourne, thoroughly overhauled her machinery, and provided new pistons. The whole of their work was under the supervision of Mr Douglas, local CSovcrnment inspector of Steamers. After being lengthened, a new honse was built amidships on deck, forming snug, comfortable ladies' and gentlemen's cabins, handsomely fitted with crimson velvet cushions. The I ladies' apartment has accommodation for six, and is ntied with every convenience. The 1 painting of both cabins is maple and walnut, showing a line pleasing contrast. On Friday evening last the whole of the alterations and repairs were completed to the entire satisfaction of her' enterprising owner, Mr Bonar, and on the 9th inst. she made a trial trip to Fort Chalmers, under the command of her old master, Captain Bascand, who, some yearn ago, was, wdl known here in connection with the river traffic. Mr Bcnar, Mr 11. B. Martin, her agent, and several other gentlemen, accompanied her. Deducting a stoppage made at Burkes Brewery for about twenty minutes, the actual steaming time to the Port jetty waa a few minutes under the hour. The engines, although a little stiff, worked admirably, and after examination, Mr Douglas declared that he was highly satisfied. At the Port, she was swung and had her compasses adjusted by Captains Thomson and John lto bcrtson, and returned to Duncdin in the evening. Her engines are 30-borne power, and can be worked up to 50 ; the greatest speed attained on the trip was 8£ knots, but when her machinery gets easier it is expected that 9 knots will be logged. Her dimensions are—length 9(5 feet, orcadth 16, and depth of hold 7 feet 6 inches. On the trip, her draft was 3 feet forward and 5 aft. When loaded she will be on a more even keel, and only draw 6 feet aft, and about 5 forward, thus admirably suiting the West Coast bar harbours. Her former registered tonnage was 48 ; she is now about 70, and is expected to carry about 90 on the draft of water indicated al>ove. Mr Bonar expressed j himself highly satisfied with herperformance. J

Shortly after the arrival of the Waipara at the Port, the paddle-steamer Samson showed her face off Observation Point, also on a trial trip. Going at a great speed, she took a turn round the shipping, arid came alongside the jetty. [On board of her was Mr Douglas, Local Government Inspector; Mr James Mills, managing owner of the Harbour Company ; Messrs Sparrow and Wilson, and a number of ladica and gentlemen. The trip was made in order to have her compasses adjusted and try her engines prior to making an excursion trip. After taking in a quantity of coal she returned to Dunedin, all on board being well satisfied with their comfortable and speedy trip. A few months ago the Samson was laid up in consequence of bad boilers, and the tug service, for which Bhe bad the contract, was transferred to the Geelong. On examination of the boilers, after being lifted about two feet, they were pronounced irreparable. The next thought waa whether the hull was worth a new boiler. To settle this question, she was taken into the Floating Dock, her bottom thoroughly examined, and except a few loose rivets, she was found to be in excellent condition. It was tben determined to give her a new boiler, and Mr John Darling, the Harbour Company's engineer, at once prepared plans, and the bnildimg of the boiler waa entrusted to Mr Sparrow, of the Danedin Iron-works, and the engine work to Mr Wilson, of the Otago Foundry; both of whom have done justice. The old boilers having been taken out, the Samson was moved to Dunedin, and moved to Stuart street jetty, where the new boiler, said by competent judges to lie aa fine a piece of workmanship as ever left a shop, was successfully placed on board. While laid up, she had her lining taken np and thoroughly scraped, cleaned, and repainted. While thiß wae going on, her accommodation for all classes of passengers was looked after. The large, roomy cabin, and also the ladies'cabin abaft, were thoroughly cleaned, refitted with crimson velvet cushions, and redecorated— the panels being grained spotted maple, with oak borders, giving tho whole a light, airy, handsome appearance. The snug ladies' cabin in the midship house on deck is similarly fitted and decorated. The fore-cabin is large, airy, and well ventilated. In fact, the whole of her accommodation may be pronounced the finest on the coast; and the boat herself being very easy at sea, it will be a pleasure to sail in her, and under the command of Captain Hart she will soon prove a favourite. She ia 70 horse-power, nominal, "but can be worked up to much more. The trip to the Port on the 9th iust., includiug about six minutes' stoppage, was accomplished ia 53 minutes from wharf to wharf. The engines worked well, but rather stiff, which will gradually wear off, and a speed of from 11 to 12 knots is expected to be obtained. Mr Douglas, having made a close examination of her engines, pronounced their performances to be " highly satisfactory." Credit" is due to Mr Webb for the manner in which he has carried out tho decorations, and also to all concerned for turning out a thoroughly substantial job. Tho Samson has oe&n laid on for the Oamarn trade, msJcing two trips a week, thus supplying a want long felt by the Oamarn people.

The clipper brig Ziska, which visited our port gonie yervr3 ago, arrived from China with acargoo teas, &c, on the morning of the 13th inst., and was towed up in tlie evening to a discharging berth by th«j t«*r Geelong. She left Foo-Chow-Foo on the 15th of August, had southerly winds to Japan Island, then fresh sou-westers, followed-by a typhoon, commencing at N. EL, veering round northerly to K.W., then into S.W., lasting for twenty-four hours. S.W. winds then prevailed, driving her away to west longitude, where sbe was on tlie 37tli day out, in lat. 10 N. No N.K. Trades were met with, but on tbc contrary, in their region, southerly winds were experienced. Pitt's Island, i« 174 K. lat., 2.53 N., was sighted, and the Equator crossed on October 10th, in long. 173 K. The S.E. Trades were goevd, and hung woli to the eastward. Sighted the island of Aneitxum on the 24th. On r.pproaching the New Zealand coast easterly winds prevailed, compelling her to ftctr r« westerly coarse. The passage through Conk Strait was attempted, but without success, and she had to come routh alj»;ut. Sighted Stewart's Island on the iOtlv inst., sincji then had vnriable Minds and inp'jy wea!ht.r to arrival. The brig came , inf-f* port k» fine order.

The clipper ship Lady Joeetyn arrived at

Lyttelton from London on the afternoon of the 11th, having been detained by thick foggy weather oh the coast.. AH were well oh board-;On the passage two deaths occurred, and four births took place. She left Gravesend on the 3rd of August, and was consequently 100 days on the passage. The Downs was cleared on the 4th, departure from the Lizard taken on the IOtK, and the Snares passed on the evening of the sth inst., being S7 days from the Lizard.